Does the length of time truly mark a great champion? Or the number of times winning the same championship? Or winning multiple titles? Because that seems to be the great debate in the wrestling circles.

Does Nikki Bella surpassing the previous record held by AJ Lee as WWE Divas champion make her the greatest? Would tying Ric Flair’s record of 16 World championships make John Cena the greatest? Does becoming the first-ever to hold the WWE World Heavyweight and WWE United States championships make Seth Rollins the greatest? Or how about Jay Lethal being the first-ever to hold the ROH World and ROH World Television championships?

The inter-web reports that John Cena influenced the decision to keep the championship on Nikki. Her goal was to hold the championship for 300+ days. Other reports indicated that Charlotte, much like Paige, was supposed to win the title on her official debut on Monday Night RAW. Is it true? And does it really matter?

Sure, it sucks that Nikki out-reigned AJ Lee as the WWE Divas champion. But let’s face it. AJ retired. WWE can do whatever they very well please because it’s their championship and intellectual property. So in this case, did the length of time mark Nikki as the greatest?

Nikki is definitely the best that she has ever been, but as far as being the all-around best it would have to be AJ Lee. She was a better talker on the mic, she was entertaining, and she was the better wrestler.

Ric Flair on multiple occasions has gone on record to say that he doesn’t care if John Cena ties or even surpasses the much talked about 16x World championship record. Factually, Flair won more than 16 World titles, but they aren’t recognized by WWE. Just like Sting was a multi-time TNA World champion, but of course it will never be mentioned since WWE does not consider TNA as part of its record books. If John Cena became a 16x World champion, or even a 17x World champion, would it really matter?

John Stewart, former host of The Daily Show, seemed to think so. Which was by far the most irritating moment of WWE SummerSlam. Especially because he not only interfered in a great championship match, he botched the damn spot!

Which brings us to first-evers: It was pretty cool seeing Seth Rollins hold both the WWE World Heavyweight and WWE United States championships for the past month, but it didn’t last. Winning the championships is one thing. Following through with the daunting task of actually defending the titles is a whole different beast incarnate. Seth Rollins lost the US Title back to Cena at WWE Night of Champions, and failed in his rematch the following night on RAW. But he did retain the WWE World Heavyweight title, so there’s that.

At Best in the World 2015, I was fortunate enough to be in attendance when Jay Lethal made history and defeated Jay Briscoe for the ROH World championship. And to think TNA didn’t know what to do with Lethal? But on top of that, Lethal has been the longest reigning ROH World Television champion with an astonishing 536 days and counting, and an unprecedented 38 championship defenses. He’s also defended his World title on 3 separate occasions. Does winning championships and having a combination of long reigns and quality title defenses the mark of a great champion?

Tell me your thoughts in the comments section below this post. Or if you just want to hit me up, you can do so on the twitter @WrestlingTimesX or follow my interests and journey to a healthier fit lifestyle on my instagram @losfriday!

Also, make sure to like this post and share it. The more people who like it and share it, the more likely I’ll continue to rant about wrestling!

WrestlingTimesX proudly presents WTX Video Podcast, a wrestling video podcast that brings to you the best in podcasting, entertainment, controversy, critiquing and anything else.

We talk about the WWE Intercontinental and United States championships being elevated back to prominence, the Legends contracted for blockbuster WWE marquee matches, and the WWE character gimmicks that have stood the test of time.

The closing moments of Monday Night RAW might have seen The Authority back away from the combined threat of Randy Orton and Sting, leading people to believe that WrestleMania will have a happy ending; but what if they fail? What if The Authority prevail over their adversaries?

Randy Orton’s venom struck last week after weeks of gaining The Authority’s trust. Seth Rollins, as The Architect, should have seen through Randy’s ploy, but he was blinded by his own ego to see the obvious. His carelessness landed him a first-class ticket to bitch town as Orton laid the proverbial smack down and drove his body through the announce table with a hellacious RKO.

Orton was successful because The Authority were not in Rollins’ corner that night. But as seen at the end of RAW, The Authority undoubtedly has Seth’s back and will certainly make their presence felt in their WrestleMania match. Randy Orton is a vicious competitor and would have no problem striking down each member with an RKO, while continuing to unleash his rage on the self-professed Future of the WWE, but the numbers game will certainly be a factor. The Authority may not care about the rules of the match and decimate Randy Orton.

The Vigilante Sting foiled The Authority’s plans once again when he inserted himself as Orton’s back up. With his signature bat in hand, and the element of surprise, Sting was able to help Orton fend off The Authority. More importantly, Sting was able to burrow his way deeper inside Triple H’s psyche.

Knowing Triple H, he will want to have Sting to himself without any outside interference. It’s been his creed as The King of Kings, which has led to many losses at The Showcase of The Immortals. It’s how the saying goes, pride comes before the fall. Triple H believes that he can eliminate Sting from the record books, and prove once and for all that WWE was superior to WCW in every facet.

We know why Sting finally decided to come to the WWE (read Sting: The New Face of Vengeance). But what if he fails to extinguish the corrupt Triple H? What if he fails just like he did WCW?

And what if The Big Show or Kane win The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal?

Then there’s the matter of the WWE World Heavyweight championship. Brock Lesnar versus Roman Reigns may be the main event of the show, but that doesn’t mean either one will walk out with the title. Seth Rollins can and most likely will cash in Money in the Bank to solidify himself as the Face of the WWE.

The Authority would reign supreme at the top of the mountain without anyone to oppose them. And just like what happened in WCW when the nWo took over, WWE will crumble at the heels of The Authority.

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About the blogger: I love pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why, hopefully, WrestlingTimesX will come across as different, in a better way, than anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

With a name like “The Vigilante”, I was half expecting Sting to point his bat at Triple H in their encounter at WWE Fastlane and say, “Triple H, you have failed this federation!” Instead, true to his WCW persona, Sting remained silent and let his bat do the talking.

Much like The Vigilante of Starling City, Sting attempted to overturn the broken authority that corrupted WCW as a symbol of retribution. But in Sting’s tapped verbal response, he admitted that he failed to save WCW. Not because his loyalty wavered, but because of forces beyond his control.

Fourteen years after the destruction of WCW, Sting vows to take out Triple H at WrestleMania. Because, according to Sting, Triple H’s loyalty is to himself, and his corruption and control has led to the ruin of Superstars’ lives.

About half a year ago, when TNA’s Bully Ray was on Chris Jericho’s podcast, he stated that if he ever returned to WWE (as seen at the Royal Rumble) he would want to come back as Bubba Ray Dudley because that’s the character WWE fans remember him for.

So it’s funny when wrestling fans get upset because WWE doesn’t acknowledge Sting’s past with TNA. Why would they? If Green Arrow appeared in a cross over issue with Hawkeye, would it ever be mentioned in the DC Universe? No, because each universe has their established storylines and set characters.

WCW is a part of the WWE Universe because WWE owns the video library. So the Sting we see now is picking up where Sting left off in the WWE Universe, and that’s when he disappeared after WCW closed its doors.

Although the dream match for WrestleMania was Sting and The Undertaker, I have to say that Triple H is a more logical opponent for The Icon than The Phenom. Because when WCW was bought out, Triple H made sure that the fleeting memory of the competition was bastardized. And Sting knew that if he showed up in WWE back then, his legacy would have died. But his years of silence is now over and it is time for him to enforce his vengeance.

Don’t forget to like the post, share it, and subscribe! Links are available on the right hand column.

About the blogger: I love pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why, hopefully, WrestlingTimesX will come across as different, in a better way, than anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

The closing scene from last night’s WWE Royal Rumble event was certainly “All in the Family”. Roman Reigns going over as “the guy” in this year’s Rumble match was inevitable–especially when names like Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose, and Dolph Ziggler were literally dropped out of the match–the Philadelphia crowd, in desperation, started rooting for Rusev to knock out Reigns. Not even The Great One, largely there for crowd control, was able to appease the heated Wells Fargo Center. Like it or not, the main event for WrestleMania will be Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight championship. That is of course Plan A; but as you should know there is always a Plan B.

Much like Paul Heyman stating that he has solutions: taking care of The Authority’s problem with John Cena when he was the WWE champion, and now willing to lend his services again with their issues with “The Vigilante” Sting; there is a solution to this year’s WrestleMania main event, and no, it’s not another YES Movement. The solution lies with the self-proclaimed future of the WWE Seth Rollins and his Money in the Bank contract. A contract which states that he can cash in for a World championship opportunity anytime he pleases.

As retribution for last night’s Triple Threat match, Seth Rollins may decide to cash in on the unsuspecting Brock Lesnar sooner rather than later; thus changing the main event to Rollins vs Reigns. But to hold the MITB for so long and have such momentum, Rollins, being an architect and all, would want to wait until WrestleMania and either A) insert himself into the main event, turning this into a Triple Threat match; or B) leaving the main event as it stands, but cashing in on the winner so the title changes hands regardless of who wins the main event.

There was a lot of fanfare reported last night that the WWE Network cancellation page crashed. While Vince McMahon and Co. are dead set on having Roman Reigns be the next guy, the wrestling fans are making their voices heard in a way that even Vinnie Mac may finally listen. Will WWE close down tomorrow? Absolutely not. May they change their minds about the WrestleMania card? Perhaps. The fans demanded Daniel Bryan last year, and we got him. Anything can happen in the WWE.

Question: How great was seeing Bully Ray / Bubba Ray Dudley back in a WWE ring? What are your thoughts, people!?

Don’t forget to like the post, share it, and subscribe! Links are available on the right hand column.

About the blogger: I love pro wrestling and all of its layers of athleticism and entertainment. I also love to read and write, which is why, hopefully, WrestlingTimesX will come across as different, in a better way, than anything else that you read on the web. My mantra on wrestling, in any state, is to love it then, now, and forever.

Daniel Bryan was voted “Superstar of the Year” by the WWE Universe. What can we expect from the former WWE champion in 2014?

2013 was a memorable year in the world of professional wrestling; we’ve seen the unveiling of a new WWE championship, as well as the unification of WWE’s two World titles. We’ve seen the rising of several promising talents within the developmental camps of WWE, as well as changes we’ve longed hoped for within WWE and TNA. What do we as wrestling fans have to look forward to as we close out this year and move into the new year?

Well, brother… Hulkamania is no longer running wild in the IMPACT Zone, but may make a long-awaited return to the WWE. No, not as an active wrestler because let’s face it, Hulk Hogan is long past his glory days. It’s strange, we’ve seen the Hulkster in TNA Wrestling for about 3-4 years and no one batted an eye, but if he were to return to the WWE, fans would lose their minds. And why wouldn’t they? Despite the leading role as a General Manager in TNA, Hogan’s real home will always be the WWE. It was in the WWE that Hulkamania truly ran wild with a four-year WWE championship reign, and the pinnacle of the birth of WrestleMania.

So how’s TNA Wrestling fairing without the Hulkster in charge? Well, I guess the IMPACT Zone has Dixie Carter because she is a Carter and the world needs her, apparently. At first, if you followed me on twitter @WrestlingTimesX, I didn’t have anything nice to say about Dixie Carter when she first started her heel turn, but she has come a long way. Dixie Carter, with her outrageous demands, delusions of grandeur, insane concepts, and constant back-talking towards “The Phenomenal One”, has turned into quite the character.

Then she made the decision of placing the championship on Magnus, which doesn’t sit well with me because he hasn’t proven himself to take on that position. Hopefully in time, Magnus might use this opportunity to grow a personality and prove to be entertaining to say the least. 2013 in TNA was really a long-shot experiment to try to launch Magnus to the top, with him being involved with the Main Event Mafia, to being thrust into a main event match at Bound for Glory against “The Icon” Sting. I’m all for TNA trying to develop new talents, but don’t force them into a position that they are clearly not ready for.

AJ Styles makes his triumphant return to Ring of Honor Wrestling on January 4th.

Where oh where is the People’s champion? Not talking about Hollywood Rocky, I’m referring to AJ Styles who high-tailed it out of TNA Wrestling to defend the World championship around the world. Well, after losing the unification match to Magnus, and negotiations on a new contract went south, Styles made his triumphant return to the independent circuit as a free agent. Ring of Honor Wrestling announced that on January 4th, Styles will make his return to ROH after eight years against “Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong.

“I’m excited to return to ROH and the Nashville Fairgrounds. Lots of history made that I was made that I was part of in both. Expect more on January 4. Hope Nashville fans fill that asylum,” said AJ.

Enough about TNA, what about the rising stars of tomorrow in NXT Wrestling? WWE has Kassius Ohno… no, wait, Chris Hero was released from his contract and returned back to the independent circuit. There was talk about Hero not following orders about his physique, not too sure if any of that was true, but WWE didn’t truly understand Hero like the way his followers did. The man had all the god-given ability to become a major player in the WWE, but he was left to make gold out of crap with a crap name like Kassius Ohno. Was he supposed to be Russian or Japanese? What kind of name was that? At least Hero gets to return to his fans with the gimmick that provided a living for himself unlike Sin Cara.

Not a hundred percent sure what has become of the original Místico, Luis Ignascio Urive Alvirde, since Hunico is currently donning the Sin Cara mask, but if Ignascio does get released from the WWE, he will be left with nothing. Think about it, WWE owns the likeness of the Sin Cara gimmick which is the Místico gimmick only in blue. What chance does Ignascio have of making a living outside of the WWE? Then again, Mexico would probably take him back in a heart beat with promotional signs reading “Former WWE Superstar…” just to draw in crowds.

Sami Zayn, formerly recognized as El Generico, is unmasked and taking NXT Wrestling by storm. He is already being hailed as the future of the WWE.

Do you know who doesn’t share Ignascio’s problem? Sami Zayn, formerly known as the “Generic Luchador” El Generico, has made quite an IMPACT–no, not over in Dixieland–in NXT Wrestling. The Florida fans at Full Sail University are well aware of who Sami Zayn truly is with chants of “Ole… Ole, Ole, Ole!” And Sami has delivered every time he has stepped foot in the wrestling ring; even Michael Cole said that his match with Antonio Cesaro was one of the best matches he’d seen in a long time–and this was after WrestleMania. I won’t lie, it was strange at first seeing El Generico unmasked, since I really loved his character in Ring of Honor, but he’s actually making a developmental opportunity into a “sensational” one.

As wrestling moves forward into 2014, the WWE will have its work cut out for them as they introduce a new generation to what wrestling was like when it only had one world champion. Opportunities for superstars to earn championship matches will be far less, but it’s been long overdue because wrestling really needs a champion who will represent the company as Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart did in the early years.

There’s talk of the return of Jeff Jarrett to TNA Wrestling. Not too sure how I would feel about that. Many people say it would be great to have Double-J back in control because he gave us an alternative to the WWE. But he also gave us matches that saw him as the World champion, which when a booker books himself to be on top, the promotion fails to progress.

::To the Reader:: Thank you for reading my blog for the past year, now raise your glass–whether it’s coffee, soda, wine, or a Steveweiser–and let’s toast to the New Years and to another year of professional wrestling. And don’t forget to follow the mantra of WrestlingTimesX – Love Wrestling… Now. Then. Forever.

Answer the Question: What are you looking forward to in professional wrestling come the New Year?

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For eighteen months, The Aces and Eights ran roughshod throughout TNA thanks to the evil manipulator known as Bully Ray. The Sons of Anarchy inspired faction have possessed both the TNA World Heavyweight and Television championships; and are solely responsible for closing the World championship chapter in the story of “The Icon” Sting. So what finally lead to their demise? Was it The Main Event Mafia? Was it “The Phenomenal One” AJ Styles?

Although MEM was reformed with the sole purpose of destroying The Aces & Eights and taking back the control of the World title away from the club’s president, their greatest contribution was thinning the numbers. AJ Styles, now wrestling in “third-world countries” defending an “unsanctioned” world title according to TNA President Dixie Carter, did accomplish one of MEM’s agendas by defeating Bully Ray at Bound for Glory for the World championship.

The second part of the agenda was all thanks to former VP of The Aces and Eights, Mr. Anderson. The former two-time TNA World champion was persuaded into joining the club with a parade of alcohol and beautiful easy women, but what set him off was Bully’s abuse of power. The Prez was too busy locking lips with the lovely Brooke Tessmacher, and bragging about his former body guard MMA star Tito Ortiz.

The culmination at Turning Point that has built up since Anderson was ousted from the club via a spike piledriver at the top of the entrance ramp was perhaps, if not, Anderson’s greatest match in TNA Wrestling. Yes, he’s been the World champion, and he’s wrestled in a five-star match against Kurt Angle at Lockdown (2010), but for the first time in a long time, Anderson fought with passion.

It’s no secret that Anderson was fired from the WWE under some bogus context of a broken wrist, which led him to TNA where most freshly released WWE talents go to. But during his stint in TNA, not once did he wrestle like he wanted to be there. Perhaps he was wrestling under the mindset that he would return to the WWE in three years time.

An emmient return to WWE did appear to be the case when Anderson was exiled from The Aces and Eights, but when he came rushing down the ramp to ensure AJ Styles retained the World title from Bully Ray, he came back with something worth fighting for. Mr. Anderson wrestled with passion and conviction and that’s what makes this crazy world of professional wrestling so real to us.

Answer the Question: What are your thoughts on TNA finally concluding The Aces and Eights storyline?

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